I already have two custom 870 shotguns and a third sitting in a box. I came across a good deal for a used police gun trade in. It’s has some bare spots on the metal. I want to keep this as cheap as possible so cerakote is out. I am having scattergun ghost rings sights installed but I have had those sitting around for the last three years. Is it even worth to have it parkerized or just keep a eye out for rust? It will be a closet gun in my living room.

Spray it down with Eezox. Let it dry. Rub off the excess. If there is not any rust now, that should be plenty for in the house.

Bruce

Every day, the New York Times carries a motto in a box on its front page. "All the News That's Fit to Print," it says. It's been saying it for decades, day in and day out. I imagine most readers of the canonical sheet have long ceased to notice this bannered and flaunted symbol of its mental furniture. I myself check every day to make sure that the bright, smug, pompous, idiotic claim is still there. Then I check to make sure that it still irritates me. If I can still exclaim, under my breath, why do they insult me and what do they take me for and what the hell is it supposed to mean unless it's as obviously complacent and conceited and censorious as it seems to be, then at least I know I still have a pulse. You may wish to choose a more rigorous mental workout but I credit this daily infusion of annoyance with extending my lifespan. -Christopher Hitchens

"At the core of liberalism is the spoiled child — miserable, as all spoiled children are, unsatisfied, demanding, ill-disciplined, despotic and useless. Liberalism is a philosophy of sniveling brats." -PJ O'Rourke“It is just as difficult and dangerous to try to free a people that wants to remain servile as it is to try to enslave a people that wants to remain free." -Niccolo Machiavelli

Unless you're at 100% humidity, no need. The old 870's are almost indestructible. I have shotguns in my agency from the 1970's with little to no finish left that still work fine and only require a rubdown with an oily rag to keep the rust at bay. I'm in Central Florida if that tells you anything.

Originally posted by RHINOWSO:My take on LEO trade ins is only buy if you intend to do minimal restoration. Change springs, test function, then leave em.

If your intent is to make it pristine again, you should have just purchased a new firearm from the start.

I would not touch a current production 870 police but that’s my preference

I agree with this, but would amend it to current production Remington anything. The used 870 Express I bought in 2007 was made in 2003 and it was an unimpressive rust magnet that I dumped too much time and money into trying to turn it into something it couldn’t be. I would have been better off with a well-worn, even abused Wingmaster or Police 870 from the late 70’s to early 80’s for a project gun. You can polish a gem, you can’t polish a turd; and that’s what Remington has been plopping out for going on a few decades now.

I’ve had excellent luck with removing rust and light pitting with a dremel and buffing wheel, then polish and use. Brownell’s Creme Blue to restore a rust bluing. Dry polish with wool wheels to burnish it a bit.